Late King Majuto burial take place in Tanga today

LEGENDARY Tanzanian actor and comedian, Amri Athuman, popularly known as King Majuto, who passed away in Dar es Salaam on Wednesday, will be buried at Donge in Tanga today.

Mourners carry the casket of the late Tanzanian actor and comedian, Amri Athuman, popularly known as Mzee Majuto, in Dar es Salaam yesterday. Majuto passed away in the city on Wednesday night. PHOTO; HALIMA KAMBI

King Majuto, who was born in Tanga 194, died at Muhimbili National Hospital where he was admitted on July 31.

His death on Wednesday evening after an illness has shocked many who include President John Pombe Magufuli.

The President sent a message of condolence to Minister for Information, Culture, Arts and Sports, Harrison Mwakyembe, the deceased’s family, the country’s artistes and the general public.

Magufuli described King Majuto as a true icon of Tanzania’s entertainment industry and said the country will miss the latter a lot as he was appreciated by many people.

He said King Majuto will be remembered for his comedy, love, patriotism, as well as his contribution to development in the country by participating in government and political activities.

A few months ago, President Magufuli visited the actor when he was admitted at Muhimbili Hospital with his condition having failed to improve. The President ordered that the government should send King Majuto to India for treatment.

Mwakyembe also described King Majuto as a person who lived all his life entertaining people in the country and beyond borders and added the actor will be missed a lot. The minister prayed that the actor’s soul rest in peace.

Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner Paul Makonda yesterday presented three buses for ferrying mourners to Tanga to attend King Majuto’s burial at Kiruku, a place the actor is said to have chosen for burial.

Multitudes of people that also included former President Jakaya Kikwete, Deputy Minister for Information, Culture, Arts and Sports, Juliana Shonza, yesterday paid their last homage to King Majuto at the Karimjee Hall in Dar es Salaam.

Prayers had earlier been held at Maamul Mosque at Upanga in the city where the presiding sheikh asked the gathering to trust God and pray for the departed comedian’s soul.

At Karimjee Hall Tanzania’s Mufti, Abubakar Zubeir, hailed King Majuto for being a true Muslim who, during his life time, made sure that he is living a principled life and completed all the pillars of Islam.

Tanzania Film Actors Association’s president, Simon Mwakifamba, said King Majuto has left a big gap that will never be filled.

He said the actor lived all his life in arts as he started acting when he was aged 10 and was a household name who took the entertainment industry in the country by storm.

"King Majuto was arguably one of the best comedians in the country, he lived a life of entertaining people, his boundless talent which was manifested through his artistic work connected him with people from across the country and even beyond borders,” he said.

Mwakifamba said the nation has lost a great artist who did everything to entertain people.

"Today many people are in the entertainment industry thanks to the influence and inspiration of King Majuto, he was a complete artist who was ready to work with anyone and was also always ready to offer advice and assistance whenever there was need,” he said.

Several other artists wrote on social media that they are saddened by King Majuto’s death.

Renowned artiste, Joseph Haule, who is better known as Professor Jay, said he is saddened by King Majuto’s death and prayed to God to strengthen the actor’s family during this trying moment.

Actress Wema Sepetu posted that she had planned to act with King Majuto but said it was God’s plan that it never materialized.

Much as King Majuto had been in the domestic entertainment industry for over five decades, he had yet to benefit from his talent.

The situation led to the decision by Mwakyembe to start a campaign aiming at looking at all contracts the actor signed with companies, promising that his ministry’s lawyers will go through the contracts and act on the loopholes to see to it the actor benefits from his works.

Outreach and Promotion Manager from TECC, Abdul Juma (C) speaking during the launching of the 5th phase of VIA Pathways to Work Program in Dar es Salaam yesterday. Second right is John Mwakasege from PTF and other officials from partner institutions involved in the program. Photo: courtesy of TECC.